Are you thinking about putting your house on the market this year? If so, you might be looking at ways to make it more marketable. “Before getting ready to sell, look for easy, quick fixes that will enhance your home’s listing photos and videos while appealing to the widest audience possible,” suggests Zillow home design expert Kerrie Kelly.

“Investing in curb appeal improvements such as basic landscaping, power washing, painting the front door, and adding a few fresh potted plants can go a very long way in boosting your home’s first impression on buyers,” she notes. These are all quick, affordable solutions, too.

“Curb appeal is king when it comes to making your house as attractive to buyers as possible,” declares Coronado real estate agent Jim Nelson. “A recent national study has shown yet again that replacing a front door or a garage door has the highest return on investment of any other improvement you can make on your home. Buyers want to feel good about coming home, and pulling into the driveway of a well-manicured and good-looking property offers that feeling,” the Ascent Real Estate pro adds.

General contractor Sheen Fischer agrees: “My opinion is that a good paint job and deep cleaning are the most economical and effective items a seller can do to give their home a facelift.”

Seller beware

The owner of Escondido-based Specialty Home Improvement recommends against taking on big discretionary remodeling projects for prospective buyers, including “bathrooms, kitchens, flooring, etc. unless they are needed for repairs. These things tend to include design choices, which are deeply personal, and there is a significant outlay of money and time to achieve them,” Fischer advises.

“We are very careful when making recommendations to our clients when it comes to modifying their home for sale,” Nelson points out. “The high-end buyer is very selective. We certainly wouldn’t want a client spending money on something that will just be changed after sale. To that end, though, neutralizing a home’s color palate is usually the best approach,” he recommends.

“In advising a seller on a modestly priced listing, our goal is to simply remove as many obstacles to sale as we can manage within the owner’s budget. Sometimes it’s just a matter of rearranging furniture to make a home feel larger. Other times, it’s best to address things that can be perceived as a problem. As an example, if the carpet is aging, put in new carpet or some vinyl flooring. Countertops and painting cabinets is usually an easy fix, as is changing out old appliances and swapping out old hardware for something more contemporary,” the Ascent agent recommends.

“Notwithstanding obvious eyesores and small fixes, my usual advice to a seller with an out-of-date residence is this: Unless you are willing to update your entire house, don’t bother fixing up any one spot in your home,” Nelson cautions. “It will make the rest of the house look that much more out-of-date and you won’t get the return on investment. Just redoing one room leaves buyers with the feeling that they still need to redo the rest of the house.”

• While a full-scale remodel doesn’t make sense pre-listing, having your cabinets professionally painted, hardware replaced and a complementary tile backsplash installed can provide a stylish update for a reasonable price.

• “Changing out small things like vanities and light fixtures also helps to modernize a space and give it that cohesion that it may have lacked beforehand,” suggests Nelson.

The outdoor elements

“Homes with beautifully designed and functional outdoor patios will certainly grab a buyer’s eye. While these spaces are growing in popularity around the country, San Diego residents are fortunate to enjoy warm weather all year long and will likely get a lot more regular use out of their outdoor spaces than, say, someone in Seattle,” Zillow’s Kelly observes. “Outdoor living spaces increase the home’s functionality and can even add to the home’s livable square footage — which is always appealing.

“Buyers will be especially wowed by outdoor spaces that have designated areas for food prep, storage, dry pantry and refrigeration elements. This includes outdoor cabinetry that blends interior style with durability to withstand the elements. Ice and trash bins, built-in grills, storage drawers and cabinet components with decorative hardware tee up both small square footage balconies and larger patio scenes for a completely finished look.”

Stained concrete and stacked stone cladding are surfaces Fischer is seeing do well here, too. Kelly suggests clean, simple and contemporary lines with aquamarine accent colors for accessories like bench cushions and pillows. If you’re planning to sell your home this summer, you might want to stay simple with your outdoor living space plans so you’re not undertaking a large project just before you move. You can still stage what you have attractively and add the furniture and accents Kelly recommends.

Last words

While it’s tempting to want to upgrade your home to maximize its sales potential, Ascent agent Nelson cautions against what he calls “remuddles.”

“A cohesive style and floor plan are critical if you want to get the most out of your investment. Otherwise you will leave buyers confused and saying to themselves that this or that needs to be completely redone,” says Nelson. “Oftentimes, a seller will think that because they invested X dollars, then their house should be worth that much plus. But if you leave buyers with the impression that your hard work just needs to be redone, it’s not worth anything and would have been better left alone!

“Unless you have experience with this type of thing, seek professional help, as it will potentially save you thousands of dollars.”

Gold is an independent designer in San Diego and the author of “New Kitchen Ideas That Work” and upcoming “New Bathroom Idea Book.”